Born: August 10, 1874
Died: October 20, 1964
Political Party: Republican
Terms in Office: March 4, 1929- March 3, 1933
Vice President: Charles Curtis
Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States. He was one of two presidents to have been elected without electoral experience or high military rank. Hoover was hit by the Great Depression during his Presidency, which didn't help him at all. He also passed the Hawley Smoot Tariff Act in 1930, which hurt the nation's economy and pushed us into further depression. However, he did adopt Roosevelt's good neighbor policy which was a huge plus in the United State's foreign policy. For these reasons, President Hoover deserves a C+ for his term as president.
President Hoover wanted to settle the conflict between industry and labor unions. He did so by meeting with industrialists and union leaders in 1929, and negotiated a deal where industry agreed not to reduce wages, and labor unions agreed not to strike. He also wanted to help tariff reform. He wasn't very successful in doing this with the passing of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act which raised tariffs on imported items. This caused an even worse economic depression, and other nations increased tariffs on the U.S. in retaliation, which reduced international trade. Also, one of Hoover's main goals was to improve the health of the nation's agriculture. U.S. farmers suffered greatly during this time as their income shrunk to only 1/3 of the national average, which was due largely to overproduction. But President Hoover opposed subsidies, but instead supported a bill that created a Feveral Farm Board. In June 1929, after much debate in Congress, the Agricultural Marketing Act, which included the board and no subsidies for farmers.
In 1928 the House and Senate were both Republican. But in 1930, the Democrats ruled the House, while the Senate remained Republicans. Republicans of the liberal wing didn't support the president, so he had a difficult time getting Congress to pass his legislation. Congress rejected Hoover's measures to reform the banking system and the stock exchange. Instead of convincing Congress of his proposals, he chose to limit his involvment and let Congress legislate. The result was political tension between Hoover and the Republicans, which would definitely hurt him later in his presidency. Congress also passed the Bonus Bill in 1931, over Hoover's veto. This allowed veterans to borrow up to 1/2 the value of life insurance that Congress had purchased in 1924, where they would later get their bonus in 1945. In addition Hoover vetoed the Wagner Bill proposed by congress, which would have set up a system of employment agences at the state level, thus helping the nation's unemployment rates. A major debate between progressive Republicans and Hoover was that the Republicans higher tariffs on industrial products and a tariff commission that could adjust rates (which Hoover supported); instead they supported "export debenture", which allowed the government to compensate farmers who sold their products over seas at a loss. In total, Hoover vetoed 37 bills.
Hoover's action with the most negative outcome, was how he handled the Bonus Army Situation. Unemployed U.S. veterans from World War 1 went to Washington D.C. to demand immediate payment which by law, weren't to be payed till 1945, due to the passing of the Bonus Bill in 1931. Hoover and Congress both rejected the demands, although he did support their right to protest and gave them shelter and supplies. Some members of the Bonus Army started living in unoccupied federal buildings scheduled for demolition. Hoover ordered the U.S. military to peacefully remove the Bonus Army members from the federal buildings. But General MacArthur attacked the veterans with tanks, tear gas, and bayonets, burned the camps, and killed one member. After MacArthur refused to take responsibility for the attacks, Hoover did so. Millions of Americans saw images of the attack in their newespapers and President Hoover's reputation greatly lowered with the American people.
Hoover's action with the most positive outcome was the formulation of the "Good Neighbor Policy." He began removing U.S. troops in Nicaragua and Haiti, proposed an arms embargo on Latin America, and a 1/3 reduction of the world's naval power. In response to the Japan invasion of Manchuria, he and Henry Stimson created the Hoover-Stimson Doctrine which stated that the U.S. would not recognize any territories gained by force. In addition, he helped solve a conflict between Chile and Peru on the sovereignty of Arica and Tacna. The Treaty of Lima in 1929 allowed Chile to keep Arica, and Peru regained Tacna. Even though the policy was used mostly by FDR, Hoover's foreign relation policies built the foundation on what FDR's policies were based on.
The decision that had a lasting impact on future generations of American citizens was the passing of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930. The intent of the act was to encourage the purchase of American-made products by increasing the cost of imported goods, while raising revenue for the federal government and protecting farmers. However, the act caused the economic depression to worsen, and other countries increased tariffs on American-made goods in retaliation. Therefore, a tariff war occurred, international trade was reduced, and the Depression worsened. This caused the U.S. economy to be worse in later years, and put America on the path to isolationism in the upcoming years.
In conclusion, President Hoover was an average president. Although the Hawley Smoot Tariff was a huge negative for the nation's economy, the President had good intentions when he passed the act. His "Good Neighbor Policy greatly helped our foreign relations with Latin America and other countries. Hoover made many attempts at helping the nation through relief programs, and although they weren't always successful, they showed that he cared about his country and wanted the nation to prosper. Overall, our country was better off at the end of his Presidency, and because of the reasons stated above, President Hoover deserves a C+.
Herbert Clark Hoover
Born: August 10, 1874Died: October 20, 1964
Political Party: Republican
Terms in Office: March 4, 1929- March 3, 1933
Vice President: Charles Curtis
Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States. He was one of two presidents to have been elected without electoral experience or high military rank. Hoover was hit by the Great Depression during his Presidency, which didn't help him at all. He also passed the Hawley Smoot Tariff Act in 1930, which hurt the nation's economy and pushed us into further depression. However, he did adopt Roosevelt's good neighbor policy which was a huge plus in the United State's foreign policy. For these reasons, President Hoover deserves a C+ for his term as president.
President Hoover wanted to settle the conflict between industry and labor unions. He did so by meeting with industrialists and union leaders in 1929, and negotiated a deal where industry agreed not to reduce wages, and labor unions agreed not to strike. He also wanted to help tariff reform. He wasn't very successful in doing this with the passing of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act which raised tariffs on imported items. This caused an even worse economic depression, and other nations increased tariffs on the U.S. in retaliation, which reduced international trade. Also, one of Hoover's main goals was to improve the health of the nation's agriculture. U.S. farmers suffered greatly during this time as their income shrunk to only 1/3 of the national average, which was due largely to overproduction. But President Hoover opposed subsidies, but instead supported a bill that created a Feveral Farm Board. In June 1929, after much debate in Congress, the Agricultural Marketing Act, which included the board and no subsidies for farmers.
In 1928 the House and Senate were both Republican. But in 1930, the Democrats ruled the House, while the Senate remained Republicans. Republicans of the liberal wing didn't support the president, so he had a difficult time getting Congress to pass his legislation. Congress rejected Hoover's measures to reform the banking system and the stock exchange. Instead of convincing Congress of his proposals, he chose to limit his involvment and let Congress legislate. The result was political tension between Hoover and the Republicans, which would definitely hurt him later in his presidency. Congress also passed the Bonus Bill in 1931, over Hoover's veto. This allowed veterans to borrow up to 1/2 the value of life insurance that Congress had purchased in 1924, where they would later get their bonus in 1945. In addition Hoover vetoed the Wagner Bill proposed by congress, which would have set up a system of employment agences at the state level, thus helping the nation's unemployment rates. A major debate between progressive Republicans and Hoover was that the Republicans higher tariffs on industrial products and a tariff commission that could adjust rates (which Hoover supported); instead they supported "export debenture", which allowed the government to compensate farmers who sold their products over seas at a loss. In total, Hoover vetoed 37 bills.
Hoover's action with the most negative outcome, was how he handled the Bonus Army Situation. Unemployed U.S. veterans from World War 1 went to Washington D.C. to demand immediate payment which by law, weren't to be payed till 1945, due to the passing of the Bonus Bill in 1931. Hoover and Congress both rejected the demands, although he did support their right to protest and gave them shelter and supplies. Some members of the Bonus Army started living in unoccupied federal buildings scheduled for demolition. Hoover ordered the U.S. military to peacefully remove the Bonus Army members from the federal buildings. But General MacArthur attacked the veterans with tanks, tear gas, and bayonets, burned the camps, and killed one member. After MacArthur refused to take responsibility for the attacks, Hoover did so. Millions of Americans saw images of the attack in their newespapers and President Hoover's reputation greatly lowered with the American people.
Hoover's action with the most positive outcome was the formulation of the "Good Neighbor Policy." He began removing U.S. troops in Nicaragua and Haiti, proposed an arms embargo on Latin America, and a 1/3 reduction of the world's naval power. In response to the Japan invasion of Manchuria, he and Henry Stimson created the Hoover-Stimson Doctrine which stated that the U.S. would not recognize any territories gained by force. In addition, he helped solve a conflict between Chile and Peru on the sovereignty of Arica and Tacna. The Treaty of Lima in 1929 allowed Chile to keep Arica, and Peru regained Tacna. Even though the policy was used mostly by FDR, Hoover's foreign relation policies built the foundation on what FDR's policies were based on.
The decision that had a lasting impact on future generations of American citizens was the passing of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930. The intent of the act was to encourage the purchase of American-made products by increasing the cost of imported goods, while raising revenue for the federal government and protecting farmers. However, the act caused the economic depression to worsen, and other countries increased tariffs on American-made goods in retaliation. Therefore, a tariff war occurred, international trade was reduced, and the Depression worsened. This caused the U.S. economy to be worse in later years, and put America on the path to isolationism in the upcoming years.
In conclusion, President Hoover was an average president. Although the Hawley Smoot Tariff was a huge negative for the nation's economy, the President had good intentions when he passed the act. His "Good Neighbor Policy greatly helped our foreign relations with Latin America and other countries. Hoover made many attempts at helping the nation through relief programs, and although they weren't always successful, they showed that he cared about his country and wanted the nation to prosper. Overall, our country was better off at the end of his Presidency, and because of the reasons stated above, President Hoover deserves a C+.
Works Cited:
"Herbert Hoover". Wikipedia, 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Hoover>.
Hoover, Herbert." Student Encyclopædia. Britannica Online for Kids. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2010 <http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-202151/Herbert-Hoover>.
"Herbert Clark Hoover". American President : An Online Reference Resource, 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2010 <http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/hoover/essays/biography/4>.